Shim system for a magnetic resonance hybrid scanner

ABSTRACT

A magnetic resonance apparatus which may include: a body portion having a cavity with a first and second ends and at least one opening situated at one of the first and second ends. The cavity may define a longitudinal axis (LA) extending between the first and second ends. At least one main magnet may generate a main magnetic field having a substantially homogenous magnetic field within the cavity. A center shim (CS) which may be formed from a ring having opposed edges and which may extend along a length of the longitudinal axis of the cavity. One or more discrete shims (DSs) may be situated between the CS and at least one of the first and second ends.

This application is a Divisional under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/899,154, filed Dec. 17, 2015, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/837,805, filedJun. 21, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/924,952,filed Jan. 8, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated hereinby reference thereto.

The present system relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systemand, more particularly, to an MRI system with an improved shimmingsystem suitable for magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiation therapy,and a method of operation thereof.

Magnetic resonance scanners typically render images for diagnosingdisease and contrasting healthy tissue from abnormal tissue. MR imagingcan provide diagnostic spatial specificity in real time. Radiationtherapy methods have been developed using a linear accelerator (LINAC)which can focus a radiation beam and preferentially destroy diseasedtissue while sparing healthy tissue. However, when the radiation beam isfocused on healthy tissue, it can damage the healthy tissue.Fortunately, the beam-focus technology of radiation therapy may be usedwith the diagnostic spatial specificity of real-time MR imaging so thatthe radiation beam can be accurately focused to treat diseased tissuewhile reducing or entirely preventing damage to healthy tissue. Systemswhich combine MR imaging and beam-focus technology are known as hybridsystems. One such hybrid system is commonly referred to as a magneticresonance (MR) Linear Accelerator (LINAC) (MR-LINAC) system. MR-LINACsystems (also simply referred to as “MR-LINAC” for simplicity) combinereal-time MR imaging with radiation therapy and can perform beam shapingin real-time, which can compensate for daily changes in anatomy (e.g.,of a patient) and real-time body movement of the patient such asmovement due to breathing, etc.

Unfortunately, when radiation therapy is combined with MR imaging,several difficulties may be encountered. The main magnetic field of anMRI system is typically produced by main magnets and is located in amain bore of the main magnets. It is preferable that the main magneticfield be homogenous within at least a scanning volume of the main boreso that proper MR image information (e.g., echo information) may beobtained and processed to construct images that have a desired imagequality. However, the main magnetic field can be adversely influencedand become inhomogeneous by various factors such as manufacturingtolerances, imperfections in the main magnets, onsite shielding, strayfields, poor shimming, fields created by the MR-LINAC, etc. Thisinhomogeneity is undesirable as it can reduce image quality.Accordingly, shimming methods may be employed to correct for anyinhomogeneity in the main magnetic field. However, conventional shimmingmethods using discrete pieces of steel would produce radiation shadowscausing a non-uniform dose to be delivered to the patient if penetratedby a LINAC. Simply removing the discrete shim locations from the LINACbeam path would not allow the shim system to efficiently correct anyfield non-uniformity. An axially symmetric uniformity correction isrequired inside the region which is penetrated by the LINAC beam path.

The system(s), device(s), method(s), arrangements(s), user interface(s),computer program(s), processes, etc. (hereinafter each of which will bereferred to as system, unless the context indicates otherwise),described herein address problems in prior art systems.

In accordance with embodiments of the present system, there is discloseda magnetic resonance apparatus which may include: a body portion havinga cavity with a first and second ends and at least one opening situatedat one of the first and second ends, the cavity may define alongitudinal axis (LA) extending between the first and second ends. Atleast one main magnet may generate a main magnetic field having asubstantially homogenous magnetic field within the cavity. A center shim(CS) may be formed from a ring having opposed edges and may extend alonga length of the longitudinal axis of the cavity. One or more discreteshims (DSs) may be situated between the CS and at least one of the firstand second ends.

In accordance with some embodiments, the CS may include a plurality ofrings laminated upon each other. Each of the plurality of rings may haveopposed ends situated apart from each other so as to define a gap. Afiller may be situated within one or more of the gaps. Further, each ofthe gaps of each of the rings may be aligned with each other orrotationally offset from each other so as to be staggered. It is furtherenvisioned that the DSs may include fine shims and coarse shims.Moreover, one or more rails may be provided, each of which may beconfigured to be coupled to corresponding ones of the shims such as thefine shims so as to form a shim cartridge. The rails may be furtherconfigured to be coupled to, and situated within, the body portion. Insome embodiments, a locking mechanism may be provided to lock the shimsin a desired position within the cavity of the body.

The apparatus may further include a radiation source that passes into anMRI system for purposes of preferentially destroying diseased tissuewhile sparing healthy tissue. For example, the apparatus may furtherinclude a linear accelerator (LINAC) which may generate and emit atleast one radiation beam through an exclusion zone (Ez) within thecavity of the body. The Ez may have opposed ends and be situated withinthe cavity in a path of the at least one radiation beam emitted by theLINAC. The CS may be located at least in part within the Ez. It isfurther envisioned that at least one of the CS and the DSs may beconfigured to enforce uniformity of the main magnetic field within thecavity.

In accordance with yet other embodiments of the present system there isprovided a device such as a magnetic resonance linear accelerator(MR-LINAC) apparatus, which may include: a body portion having a cavityhaving opposed ends and at least one opening situated at one of theopposed ends. The cavity may define a longitudinal axis (LA) extendingbetween the first and second ends. At least one main magnet may generatea main magnetic field including a substantially homogenous magneticfield within the cavity. A linear accelerator (LINAC) may emit at leastone radiation beam which passes through the cavity. The shim system mayinclude an annular center shim (CS) with opposed edges and whichsubstantially encircles and extends along the longitudinal axis (LA) ofthe body portion. The shim system may further include a plurality ofdiscrete shims (DSs) situated between an edge of the opposed edges ofthe CS and an adjacent one of the opposed ends of the cavity. It isfurther envisioned that the CS may include a plurality of shim layerslaminated upon each other. In accordance with some embodiments, the shimsystem may further include one or more rails each configured to becoupled to a plurality of the DSs.

In accordance with yet further embodiments of the present system thereis provided a method of adjusting one or more fine shims of amagnetic-resonance (MR) system having a main magnet with a bore, anannular center shim located within the bore, the method performed by atleast one controller of the MR system. The method may include acts of:controlling main magnets to output a nominal field within the bore ofthe main magnet; acquiring a magnetic field map of the magnetic fieldwithin the bore of the main magnet; and determining optimized locationsfor the shims on corresponding shim rails based upon an analysis of themagnetic field map. The method may further include an act of insertingat least one of the shim rails having the optimized rail locations forthe fine shims into the bore of the main magnet. The method may alsoinclude an act of locking the at least one shim rails that is insertedin the bore of the main magnet using a locking mechanism. Further, themethod may include an act of selecting a shim rail having theconfiguration of fine shims coupled to the shim rail in accordance withthe determined optimized shim locations. In accordance with someembodiments, all shim rails of a body may be situated within the cavityregardless of locations of shims upon a corresponding rail or even ifthe corresponding rail includes no shims, as may be the case for some ofthe plurality of rails.

The present invention is explained in further detail in the followingexemplary embodiments and with reference to the figures, where identicalor similar elements are partly indicated by the same reference numerals,and the features of various exemplary embodiments being combinable. Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a cutaway side view of a portion of system, such as anMR-LINAC system with a shimming system in accordance with embodiments ofthe present system;

FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the MR-LINAC systemtaken along lines 2A-2A of FIG. 1 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system;

FIG. 2B shows an end view of a portion of the MR-LINAC system takenalong an illustrative sectional of FIG. 1 in accordance with yet otherembodiments of the present system;

FIG. 2C shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the MR-LINAC systemincluding a spiral center shim in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system;

FIG. 2D shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the MR-LINAC systemtaken along lines 2A-2A of FIG. 1 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system;

FIG. 3 shows a partially cutaway, exploded, perspective view of aportion of the MR-LINAC system in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the MR-LINAC systemtaken along lines 2A-2A of FIG. 1 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system;

FIG. 5 shows a partial cutaway side view of a portion of the system 100taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2B in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system;

FIG. 6 is a graph 600 which shows a portion of low-order terms of anMR-LINAC system in accordance with embodiments of the present system;

FIG. 7 shows a portion of a system 700 in accordance with embodiments ofthe present system; and

FIG. 8 shows an implementation example in which the shim rails may bemounted in the gradient coil rather than directly to the bore of themagnet in accordance with embodiments of the present system.

The following are descriptions of illustrative embodiments that whentaken in conjunction with the following drawings will demonstrate theabove noted features and advantages, as well as further ones. In thefollowing description, for purposes of explanation rather thanlimitation, illustrative details are set forth such as architecture,interfaces, techniques, element attributes, etc. However, it will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodimentsthat depart from these details would still be understood to be withinthe scope of the appended claims. Moreover, for the purpose of clarity,detailed descriptions of well known devices, circuits, tools,techniques, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the descriptionof the present system. It should be expressly understood that thedrawings are included for illustrative purposes and do not represent theentire scope of the present system. In the accompanying drawings, likereference numbers in different drawings may designate similar elements.Further, in some figures, cross-hatching may not be shown for the sakeof clarity.

The present system is directed to radiation therapy devices and methodsusing a radiation source that passes into an MRI system for therapeuticpurposes. For example, the present system may be suitably utilized forpreferentially destroying diseased tissue of a subject while sparinghealthy tissue. One such radiation therapy device for example, includesa linear accelerator (LINAC) which may generate and emit at least oneradiation beam through an exclusion zone (Ez) within a cavity of a bodyof an MRI device. The Ez may have opposed ends and be situated withinthe cavity in a path of the at least one radiation beam emitted by theLINAC. In accordance with yet other embodiments of the present systemthere may be provided a magnetic resonance linear accelerator (MR-LINAC)apparatus as a radiation source.

For purposes of simplifying the following discussion, the embodiments ofthe present system will be discussed with regard to LINAC and MR-LINACsystems operating as the radiation source. It should however beexpressly understood that embodiments of the present system may also besuitably applied with regard to other radiation sources that cooperatewith the embodiments of the present system. As such, usage of the LINACand MR-LINAC herein should be understood to include systems that utilizeother radiation sources that may also be suitably applied.

Embodiments of the present system may employ shimming methods which maycorrect for inhomogeneity in the main magnetic fields of a main magnetby, for example, cancelling out gradients over a nuclear magneticresonance (NMR) sample. Accordingly, a desired uniformity (e.g.,homogeneity) of the main magnetic field that is essential for desiredimage quality may be obtained. Shimming methods in accordance withembodiments of the present system may compensate for adverse influencesin the main magnetic field of a main magnet using passive shimmingmethods. These passive shimming methods rely upon shims (e.g., passiveshims) which may be formed from a shim material such as shim iron (orother ferromagnetic material) and may be placed at one or more desiredlocations relative to the main magnet of a corresponding MRI-LINACsystem. Shim rails may span a portion of a length of a bore of a mainmagnet and may have shims coupled thereto at predetermined locations.Thus, these predetermined shim locations on the shim rails may bepopulated with shims while other shim locations are not populated withshims. A decision whether to populate a shim location with a shim (e.g.,made of shim iron) may be made by shimming software operating inaccordance with embodiments of the present system. It is furtherenvisioned that embodiments of the present system may further employactive shims.

FIG. 1 shows a cutaway side view of a portion of a system in accordancewith embodiments of the present system illustratively shown as anMR-LINAC system 100 (hereinafter system 100 for the sake of clarity)including a shimming system in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system. As discussed above, while the embodiment discussed isrelated to an MR-LINAC system, this illustrative discussion should beunderstood to include a discussion related to other radiation sourcesthat may be suitably applied.

The system 100 may include a controller 110, a memory, a display, a body102, a radiation source such as a linear accelerator (LINAC) 120, ashimming system 108, main magnets, gradient coil 140, andradio-frequency (RF) transducers. A movable patient support may beprovided to support a patient 101 and to position the patient 101 in adesired position and/or orientation for example under the control of thecontroller 110.

The controller 110 may control the overall operation of the system 100and may include one or more logic devices such as processors (e.g.,microprocessors, etc.) etc. Further, the controller may receive echoinformation from the RF transducers and reconstruct the echoinformation. The reconstructed echo information may then be stored inthe memory for later use and/or rendered on the display.

The gradient coil 140 may include one or more gradient coils (e.g., x-,y-, and z-gradient coils) which may produce one or more gradient fieldsin one or more directions under the control of the controller 110. TheRF transducers may transmit RF pulses within the cavity and/or receiveecho information therefrom under the control of the controller 110. Forexample, the RF transducers may be controlled to transmit RF pulses atthe test patient 101 and/or to receive echo information therefrom.

One or more main magnets may include a bore and may be configured togenerate a substantially homogenous main magnetic field within thecavity 106. The one or more main magnets may be formed from asuperconducting material.

The body 102 may include one or more of the cavity 106 situated betweenopposed ends 105 and which may be configured to receive the patient 101such that at least a portion of the patient 101 may be situated within ascanning volume such as a volume-of-interest (VOI) 103. One or moreopenings 104 may be situated at each of the respective opposed ends 105.The cavity 106 may have an exclusion zone (Ez) having opposed ends 109and which situated between non-exclusion zones (Nz) which are situatedbetween an opposed end 109 of the Ez and an adjacent opening 104. Thecavity 106 may have an interior wall 116 and may be configured such thatat least a portion thereof is situated within the bore of the one ormore main magnets. However, for the sake of clarity, it will be assumedthat the cavity 106 corresponds with the bore of the one or more mainmagnets. The body 102 may include one or more other cavities in whichthe main magnets may be at least partially situated. Further the body102 may include a cooling mechanism to cool the main magnets.

The LINAC 120 may include one or more radiation guns (e.g., radiationsources such as LINAC transmitters) illustratively shown as radiationgun 120′ which may transmit radiation beams 121 into, or otherwisethrough, the Ez. Thus, the Ez may correspond with an area through whichthe radiation beam 121 passes (e.g., a radiation zone (Rz)). The area(or volume) defined by the Ez may further be considered a treatmentzone. The radiation beam 121 may include one or more radiation beamswhich may be output by the radiation source such as the LINAC and may befocused in one or more locations. The radiation source such as the LINACmay be mounted to a controllable member such as a gimbal, a gantry,etc., which may move the LINAC into a desired position (e.g., with oneor more degrees of freedom). For example, in some embodiments, thecontrollable member may rotate the LINAC 360 degrees about the body 102.The controllable member may be controlled by a user and/or thecontroller 110. Accordingly, in some embodiments the controllable membermay be controlled by the controller 110 to position and/or orient theLINAC 120 in a desired position relative to the body 102.

At least a portion of the shimming system 108 may be situated within thecavity 106 and may be configured to enforce uniformity (e.g., to correctinhomogeneity) of the main magnetic fields within the cavity 106. Theshimming system 108 may be configured to use active and/or passiveshimming methods. For example, the active shimming methods may beperformed using shimming coils controlled by the controller 110 and thepassive shimming methods may be performed using one or more passiveshims mounted at shim locations. At least a portion of the shims, suchas the passive shims, may be in a path of the radiation beam 121. Thepassive shims may be formed using any suitable material such as shimsteel and may provide shim capacity within a path of the radiation beams121 as will be described elsewhere. For example, in some embodiments,the passive shims may be formed from magnetic materials such aselectrical steel, low-carbon steel, nickel, and/or the like.

The passive shims may include discrete shims (DSs) 112 and DSs 113, anda center shim (CS) 114 each of which may be arranged to improvehomogeneity of the radiation field using a shimming method performed inaccordance with embodiments of the present system. For example, the DSs112 may be located at shim locations situated within the cavity 106 onlyin the Nz and may be coupled to the body 102 using any suitable methodor methods such as removable rails 150 or direct coupling to the body102. The DSs 112 may be coupled to the rails 150 using any suitablemethod such as bolts, screws, rivets, adhesives, friction fits, rails,etc. Similarly, the DSs 113 may be located at shim locations situatedwithin the cavity 106 only in the Nz and may be coupled to the body 102using any suitable method or methods such as bolts, screws, rivets,adhesives, friction fits, rails, etc. Locations of the DSs 112 and 113may be selected by any suitable method such as a shimming methodoperative in accordance with embodiments of the present system. The DSs112 and/or 113 may have various shapes and/or sizes and may include oneor more layers of shim iron. For example, in some embodiments the DSs112 and/or 113 may be formed having one or more of a square,rectangular, and circular shapes. Further, in some embodiments, the DSs112 and/or 113 may include a plurality of layers for example of thickshim iron which are welded together. A top layer (e.g., layer furthestfrom an interior surface of the bore may include a counter bore whichmay enable additional shim capacity as the shim fastener no longer sitson top of the shim but is surrounded by the shim. The DSs 112 and/or 113may further include washer style shims (to reduce discretization error)of various thicknesses. DSs 113 may have a shape and/or size which issimilar to, or different from, the shims 112.

In accordance with embodiments of the present system, the CS 114 may besituated within the Ez such that it may provide shim capacity within apath of the radiation beam 121 to enhance uniformity (e.g., to correctinhomogeneity) of the main magnetic fields. This may enable the system100 to meet or exceed one or more uniformity specifications such as theBeethoven™ uniformity specification, if desired. The DSs 112 may beazimuthally discrete while the CS 114 may be substantially azimuthallycontinuous relative to a longitudinal axis (LA) of the body 102.

The CS 114 may be formed from any suitable shimming material such aselectrical or low-carbon steel or the like and may have opposed edges131 which substantially correspond with the opposed ends 109 of the Ezso that the CS 114 spans at least a length of the Ez. When viewed fromthe side, the CS 114 may form an annular shape (e.g., a ring) with auniform thickness (see, FIG. 2A) and may be formed by one or more rings(e.g., a single ring or a set of sub-rings). When the CS 114 is formedfrom one or more rings, these rings may be referred to as sub-rings andmay for example be laminated to each other after setup. In accordancewith some embodiments, the CS 114 may be formed from a passive shim ironin the form of a ring of uniform thickness. As the CS 114 may have auniform thickness, the radiation beam 121 which may penetratetherethrough may be uniform and deliver predictable dosing regardless ofangle of incidence.

Alternatively, an EZ may be created by designing the magnet with a bias(known offset) to generate terms substantially similar to that whichwould be produced with a CS (e.g., see FIG. 6). However, as may bereadily appreciated, this strategy may be less efficient since all unitsmay be required to have the same bias regardless of whether the magnetmanufacturing tolerances required the bias or not. In accordance withembodiments of the present system, the DS would then shim out the biasapplied to all magnets as well as the individual magnet tolerances.

FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of MR-LINAC system 100taken along lines 2A-2A of FIG. 1 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system. The CS 114 may be formed from a plurality of annularsub-rings 114-1 through 114-M (generally 114-x) laminated upon eachother and each being formed from a foil shim layer and having opposededges (e.g., see 131 of FIG. 1) and ends 132. As each of the annularsub-rings 114-x may be similar to each other, only a single sub-ring114-1 will be discussed for the sake of clarity. The adjacent ends 132may be slightly separated from each other so as to form a seam area 134(e.g., a gap) which may be filled with a filler 136 for example afterpositioning. Thus, the CS 114 may be formed using a plurality of foilshim layers each forming a corresponding shim ring 114-x and which maybe, for example, substantially superimposed upon each other. Thus, theCS 114 may be considered to be formed from a plurality of shim layerssuch as shim rings 114-x. Each CS 114-x may rotate about thelongitudinal axis La (e.g., by an angle θ measured from the ends 132 ofa respective CS 114-x) so as to substantially turn spiral, and/or rotateabout the longitudinal axis by (360-Ø, where Ø is measured as an anglehaving a vertex at the longitudinal axis La and extending through theadjacent ends 132 of a corresponding CS 114-x). However, in someembodiments, one or more of the CSs 114-x may turn, spiral, and/orrotate more than one turn about the longitudinal axis La. The CSs 114-xmay be rotationally offset from an adjacent CS 114-x such as by an anglealpha (a) such that the seams 134 are staggered about a longitudinalaxis (La) of the cavity 106 as shown. This may minimize worst casenon-uniform attenuation and facilitate the installation of the CS 114.In an alternative configuration CA 114 may be constructed using seamlesstechnology. The gradient coil 140 is not shown for the sake of clarity.

In accordance with some embodiments, one or more portions of the CS 114such as the shim rings 114-x may be formed from materials of varyingsaturation inductions to both maximize shim capacity (provided by highsaturation induction materials) to correct for large magnet tolerancesor environmental shielding and improved shim granularity (provided bylow saturation induction materials) reducing discretization error forbest shim accuracy and final system field uniformity. As may beappreciated, the use of materials of varying saturation inductions inaccordance with embodiments of the present system is also useful forother MR-systems besides the MR-LINAC system described and as such, thedescription should be understood to include those systems that utilizethose other radiation sources.

Low saturation induction materials enable very accurate solutiondiscretization using metals of, for example, standard thicknesses andfoils which may be thick enough so that they may be handled with ease(e.g., without damage) during installation of the corresponding CS orportions thereof (e.g., shim ring 114-x). For example, in someembodiments, the CS 114 may be completed before installation within thecavity 106. However, in yet other embodiments, the CS 114 may becompleted by installing portions thereof within the cavity at separatetimes. For example, the shim rings 114-x may be installed one at a timewithin the cavity so as to form the CS 114. The adjacent shim rings114-x may be attached to each other using any suitable method such as anadhesive, pressure, etc.

The gap at respective seam areas 134 may be considered a non-uniformregion and may be filled with the filler 136. This filler 136 which mayhave a density which is substantially the same as the density of thecorresponding shim ring 114-x so as to keep the beam attenuationuniform. In accordance with embodiments of the present system,utilization of the filler may prevent or suppress non-uniform regionsdue to the gaps of a corresponding seam area 134 from causingnon-uniformity within the prescribed dose. In other words, the gapfiller may be configured to mitigate the impact of the center shim seamson the delivered dose. It is further envisioned that the CS 114 orportions thereof may be encapsulated in a suitable material forprotection such as an epoxy, if desired.

FIG. 2B shows an end view of a portion of the MR-LINAC system 100 inaccordance with embodiments of the present system. Adjacent DSs 112 areillustratively shown separated by gaps. As may be readily appreciated,the size of the gaps may be varied. The CS 114 may have a thickness thatis greater than, equal to, or less than, a thickness of the DSs 112.

FIG. 2C shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of an MR-LINAC system200C including a spiral center shim 214 in accordance with embodimentsof the present system. The MR-LINAC system 200C may be similar to thesystem 100 shown in FIG. 2A and includes a cavity 206 in which a CS 214is located. However, the CS 214 includes at least one turn (2 areillustratively shown) as measured from ends 232. The CS 214 is spirallywound over itself one or more times so as to form a laminated CS 214having a desired thickness. The CS 214 may be considered continuous asit may form one or more turns. By reducing or entirely eliminating theseam areas, the CS 214 may minimize non-uniform attenuation fromnon-uniform regions at the seam areas (e.g., such as the seam areas 134of the CS 114 shown in FIG. 2A). In some embodiments, the CS 214 mayinclude any number of turns (e.g., 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.). The adjacentlayers of the CS 114 may be attached to each other using any suitablemethod such as an adhesive, pressure, etc.

FIG. 2D shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the MR-LINAC system100 illustratively including a CS of multiple layers with apposed edgeswith gaps of each layer aligned taken along lines 2A-2A of FIG. 1 inaccordance with embodiments of the present system. This embodiment issimilar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. However, rather thanstaggering the seam areas 134 of the shim rings 114-x s shown in FIG.2A, the gaps 134 may aligned with each other such that they may becoincident with each other (e.g., one or more, such as all the staggeredgaps may be aligned with each other). Further, the shim rings 114-x maybe oriented such that the non-uniform region of the gaps 134 may avoidthe radiation zones and thus, penetration by the radiation beam 121. Afiller may be provided to fill the gaps 134 as will be discussed herein.For example, in some embodiments the gaps 134 may be situated within anarea which is not penetrated by the radiation beam 121 during use.

FIG. 3 shows a partially cutaway, exploded, perspective view of aportion of the system 100 in accordance with embodiments of the presentsystem. A plurality of The DSs 112 may be mounted upon, or otherwisecoupled to, the bore 106 of the magnet or a corresponding rail 150 ofone or more rails 150. The rails 150 may slidably engage receiving rails151 which may be coupled to the body 102. A locking system as will bedescribed elsewhere may lock the rails 151 in a desired position. Forthe sake of clarity, it will be assumed that the system 100 may besubstantially symmetric about one or more axes although this is notrequired. Accordingly, a rear view is not shown.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the MR-LINAC system100 taken along lines 2A-2A of FIG. 1 in accordance with embodiments ofthe present system. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shownin FIG. 2A and includes a CS 414 which is similar to the CS 114.However, the CS 414 may include, one or more inner layers 440 (e.g.,“inner layers”) that may match the shim iron radiation absorption of theCS 414. The one or more inner layers 440 may be coupled to CS 414 usingany suitable method (e.g., adhesives, epoxies, etc). Further, when theCS 414 is formed of multiple layers, these layers may be coupled (e.g.,laminated) to each other using any suitable method such as adhesives,etc. The one or more inner layers 440 may be formed from any suitablematerial, such as a non-magnetic material and may be configured to matchthe shim iron radiation absorption of the center shim CS 414 so as tomaintain uniform attenuation from system to system. A constant radiationabsorption between MR-LINAC systems is maintained by use of non-magneticcenter shim layers in combination with magnetic center shim layers toproduce a fixed unit of radiation absorption. In this way, MR-LINACsystems may be produced that have substantially the same beamattenuation while reducing the magnitude of LINAC beam calibrationrequired.

Several methods to attach and/or restrain portions of the shim systemwill now be discussed. According to embodiments of the present system, acenter ring restraint (CRR) may be provided to hold the CS, or portionsthereof, in a desired position relative to a desired portion of theMR-LINAC system such as a body or portions thereof such as a rail or acavity of the body. The CRR may include any suitable method such asadhesives, pins, screws, biasing members (e.g., snap rings), bolts,rivets, etc. For example, in some embodiments, the CRR may include anadhesive which may be robust against radiation which may be generated byan MR-LINAC system operating in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system. The adhesive may include a silicone adhesive or the likewhich may adhere adjacent surfaces together such as a surface of a shimand the body. For example, the adhesive may be situated between the CS114 and a surface of the body 102 such as a surface of an interior wall116 of the cavity 106 so as to couple the CS 114 to the body 102. Thus,the CRR may position the CS 114 in a desired position within at least aportion of the Ez.

When the CRR includes mounting lugs or rings, it may be desirable toposition the mounting lugs or rings outside of the Ez in an adjacentarea of the Nz. For example, in an embodiment wherein the CRR includeselements that are not substantially uniform, the elements may resideoutside of the EZ. Accordingly, one or more of the opposed edges of theCS may extend into the Nz so as to accommodate the mounting lugs orrings which may pass through openings in the CS. Thus, when usingmounting lugs or rings to couple the CS to the body, the CS may belonger (as measured between the opposed edges) (e.g., to accommodate themounting method such as the lug or rings) than when using adhesives.Thus, a benefit of using adhesives to couple the CS to the body is thatthe CS may have a shorter axial length than may be required when usingother mounting methods such as lugs or rings as a CRR. It is furtherenvisioned that any suitable attachment method or combinations ofmethods may be used to position the CS within the cavity of the body ofthe MR-LINAC system such as friction fits, screws, pins, rivets, lugs,biasing members, flanges, etc. In accordance with further embodiments ofthe present system, the CRR may include a non-magnetic biasing membersuch as a snap-ring or the like which may locate the CS in a desiredposition within the cavity of the body. During installation, thesnap-ring may be compressed and then released to apply pressure to holdthe CS against an interior wall of the cavity. It is further envisionedthat the CS may be encapsulated in whole or in part using any suitableencapsulation material such as an epoxy or the like, if desired. The useof an encapsulation method such as an epoxy may offer increasedprotection to the CS against damage.

FIG. 5 shows a partial cutaway side view of a portion of the system 100taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2B in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system. The gradient coil 140 is not shown for the sake ofclarity.

The DSs 112 and/or 113, and/or the CS 114 may be configured to receivethe desired attachment method. For example, if screws or lugs are usedto mount one or more of the DSs 112 to a corresponding rail 150, thenthese DSs 112 may include, for example, an opening configured to receivethe screws or lugs for mounting. An Ez may correspond at least in partwith radiation/treatment zones.

With regard to the length of the CS 114, the opposed edges 131 of the CS114 and may extend along a longitudinal axis LA of the cavity 106 suchthat it at least extends up to, or axially beyond, adjacent opposed endsof the Ez. Portions of the CS 114 situated between the ends of the Ezand within an adjacent opposed edge 131 may include a mounting areawhich may be configured to receive the desired mounting method. Forexample, one or more of the mounting areas may include an opening (e.g.,punched or otherwise cut out of the CS 114) to receive bolts, screws,lugs or other mounting member(s) which may be coupled to the body 102 toposition the CS 114 in a desired location relative to the body 102.However, in yet other embodiments, it is envisioned that that one ormore of the opposed edges 131 may be welded to the body 102 or portionsthereof. Although the opposed edges 131 of the CS 114 may extend intothe NZ, the DSs 112 and/or the DSs 113 cannot extend into the Ez. Insome embodiments, one or more of the opposed edges 131 of the CS 114 mayextend up to or beyond the opposed ends of the Ez depending upon a typeof mounting method used. For example, if adhesives or welding is used asa method to mount the CS 114 to the body 102, then the CS 114 may haveopposed edges 131 which may extend up to or slightly past an adjacentone of the opposed ends of the Ez. Accordingly, the mounting areas maybe almost nonexistent or very small. However, if studs or bolts are usedas a method to mount the CS 114 to the body 102, then the CS 114 mayhave opposed edges 131 which may extend past up to an adjacent one ofthe opposed end of the Ez so as to form a larger mounting area which maybe configured to receive the desired mounting method (e.g., openings toreceive studs, etc.)

DSs 112 and 113 may be different from each other. For example, the DSs112 may be of a first type (e.g., with regard to material, shape, size,layers, mounting methods, etc.) while the DSs 113 may be of a differenttype A plurality of shims such as the shims of the first type (e.g., DSs112) may be coupled to a corresponding rail 150 and may form a shim railblock assembly 135. Each rail 150 may be configured to be coupled to thebody 102 and/or detached from the body 102. Accordingly, each shim railblock assembly 135 may be slidably attached to or removed from the body102 as a unit. For example, a shim rail block assembly 135 having adesired shim configuration may be slidably inserted into the body 102(as shown by arrows) and locked into place using any suitable lockingmechanism thereby simplifying the shimming process. Removal may beaccomplished by sildably removing a corresponding shim rail blockassembly 135 in the opposite direction. Thus, the one or more shim railblock assemblies 135 may function as a shim cartridge which may beinserted into, and/or removed from, the body 102 as a unit. Accordingly,a user may assembly the shim rail block assembly 135 outside of the bore106 of the body 102 which can reduce time required for fine shimming thesystem 100. One or more of the shim rail block assemblies 135 may havesimilar or different shim configurations. The body 102 may include ashim rail receiving mechanism which may be configured to be coupled to acorresponding shim rail 150 so that the shim rail block assemblies 535may be inserted and/or secured from an opening 104 on a correspondingend of the body 102.

One or more of the shims may be installed/adjusted on site for adjustingthe shimming of the system 600. For example, to change the configurationof the DSs 112 a shim rail block assembly 135 having a desired fine shimconfiguration may be installed in the cavity 106 and locked in placeusing any suitable locking method. Thus, one or more of the shim railblock assemblies 135 may be easily removed from the body 102 so that aconfiguration of the DSs 112 may be changed by removing or inserting DSs112 at desired shim locations on the rail 150 while the rail 150 isoutside of the cavity 106 of the body 102 for user convenience. It isenvisioned that in some embodiments the rails 150 may be preconfiguredwith shims (e.g., at the factory) while in others a user may change anarrangement of the shims, as desired.

In accordance with embodiments of the present system, center shim ringsmay be installed on the bore of the main magnet and/or on an outsidediameter (OD) of a gradient coil of the system as for example shown inFIG. 8. Further, it is envisioned that some systems may receive afactory pre-shim configuration that may include, for example, themounting of the center shim in the bore of the magnet and population ofthe coarse shim locations. The shim rails may then be used for fineshimming onsite. It is further envisioned that in accordance withembodiments of the present system, the center ring thickness may beoptimized on a per magnet bases to provide efficient shimming. Methodsthat depend on the same shim ring (or the same design bias therebyproducing an effect substantially similar to a CS) on all magnets wouldlikely cause the shimming on the majority of the magnets to be shimmedinefficiently in order to make the outliers usable. It is furtherenvisioned that beam attenuation may be matched across such systems,such as all MR-LINAC systems, by applying “dummy” (non-magnetic) centershim layers as described above. These dummy shim layers may benon-magnetic shim layers which may be added to achieve a desired (e.g.,matched or the same) beam-path attenuation on all such systems (e.g.,all such LINAC systems) and may be added directly to an interior surfaceof the center shim iron or to an interior surface of the body in certaininstances. For example, some magnets may require many layers of centershim iron while others may require little if any layers of center shimiron. Accordingly, if there are no layers of center shim iron installedin the main bore, then the dummy shim layer may be applied directly toan interior surface of the main bore in the center region.

Test results of an MR-LINAC system formed in accordance with embodimentsof the present system will now be described with reference to FIG. 6which is a graph 600 which shows a portion of low-order terms of anMR-LINAC system in accordance with embodiments of the present system.Graph 600 illustrates simulated terms (e.g., Z1, Z2, Z4, and Z6(generally Zx, where x is any even integer)) determined in accordancewith embodiments of the present system. The terms were simulated for atheoretical iron ring having a width (e.g., extending along thelongitudinal axis (La) of the MR-LINAC system) and a thickness of 1×1cm, respectively. For modelling, the iron ring was assumed to be locatedat the radius of a shim system (e.g., measured from the LA axis to thecentroid of a shim location of the shim system) for the MR-LINAC inaccordance with embodiments of the present system. Portions of the termsZx which lie to the left of line 601 (e.g., the edge of the CS) would bedifficult if not impossible to attain using conventional shimmingmethods. However, the portions of terms Zx were obtained in an MR-LINACsystem using shimming methods in accordance with embodiments of thepresent system. Thus, shimming methods in accordance with embodiments ofpresent system such as shown in FIG. 1 which use a CS 114 situatedwithin an exclusion zone of an MR-LINAC system provides portions ofterms Zx that would not be attainable when using conventional shimmingmethods if discrete shims are excluded from the beam path. Further,other systems including MR-LINAC systems including arrangements of shimsin accordance with embodiments of the present system may enable systemsconfigured in accordance with embodiments of the present system to meetworld class uniformity specifications such as the Philips Ingeniaspecification. As made clear, the embodiments of the present system maybe suitably applied with radiation delivery systems other than the LINACradiation delivery system illustratively discussed herein. As such, theclaims should be understood to include such other radiation deliverysystems that for example may provide the same or similar functionalityto the system.

FIG. 7 shows a portion of a system 700 in accordance with embodiments ofthe present system. For example, a portion of the present system mayinclude a processor 710 (e.g., a controller) operationally coupled to amemory 720, a rendering device such as a display 730, sensors 740, RFtransducers 760, magnetic coils 792, a linear accelerator (LINAC) 794,and a user input device 770. The memory 720 may be any type of devicefor storing application data as well as other data related to thedescribed operation. The application data and other data are received bythe processor 710 for configuring (e.g., programming) the processorinside 710 to perform operation acts in accordance with the presentsystem. The processor 710 so configured becomes a special purposemachine particularly suited for performing in accordance withembodiments of the present system.

The operation acts may include configuring an MRI system by, forexample, controlling optional support actuators, the magnetic coils 792,and/or the RF transducers 760. The support actuators may control aphysical location (e.g., in x, y, and z axes) of a patient, if desired.The LINAC may be controlled by the processor 710 to output a beam with adesired shape, power, etc. The magnetic coils 792 may include mainmagnetic coils, gradient coils (e.g., x-, y-, and z-gradient coils),optional shimming coils, and may be controlled to emit a main magneticfield and/or gradient fields in a desired direction and/or strength. Thecontroller may control one or more power supplies to provide power tothe magnetic coils 792 so that a desired magnetic field is emitted at adesired time. The RF transducers 760 may be controlled to transmit RFpulses at the patient and/or to receive echo information therefrom. Oneor more of the magnetic coils may operate to receive signals such as the(MR) echo information and transform them (e.g., using one or morereconstruction techniques of embodiments of the present system) intocontent which may include image information (e.g., still or video images(e.g., video information)), data, and/or graphs that can be rendered on,for example, a user interface (UI) of the present system such as on thedisplay 730, etc. Further, the content may then be stored in a memory ofthe system such as the memory 720 for later use. Thus, operation actsmay include requesting, providing, and/or rendering of content such as,for example, reconstructed image information obtained from the echoinformation. The processor 710 may render the content such as imageinformation on a UI of the system such as a display of the system.

The processor 710 may further control operation of a LINAC so as tocontrol beam power, focus, intensity, etc. The processor 710 may furtherreceive information related to location of one or more radiation guns ofthe LINAC and process this information to determine the location of thecorresponding one or more radiation guns. The user input 770 may includea keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, or other device, such as atouch-sensitive display, which may be stand alone or be a part of asystem, such as part of a personal computer, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone), a monitor, asmart- or dumb-terminal or other device for communicating with theprocessor 710 via any operable link. The user input device 770 may beoperable for interacting with the processor 710 including enablinginteraction within a UI as described herein. Clearly the processor 710,the memory 720, display 730, and/or user input device 770 may all orpartly be a portion of a computer system or other device such as aMR-LINAC system.

The methods of the present system are particularly suited to be carriedout by a computer software program, such program containing modulescorresponding to one or more of the individual steps or acts describedand/or envisioned by the present system. Such program may of course beembodied in a computer-readable medium, such as an integrated chip, aperipheral device or memory, such as the memory 720 or other memorycoupled to the processor 710.

The program and/or program portions contained in the memory 720 mayconfigure the processor 710 to implement the methods, operational acts,and functions disclosed herein. The memories may be distributed, forexample between the clients and/or servers, or local, and the processor710, where additional processors may be provided, may also bedistributed or may be singular. The memories may be implemented aselectrical, magnetic or optical memory, or any combination of these orother types of storage devices. Moreover, the term “memory” should beconstrued broadly enough to encompass any information able to be readfrom or written to an address in an addressable space accessible by theprocessor 710. With this definition, information accessible through anetwork is still within the memory, for instance, because the processor710 may retrieve the information from the network for operation inaccordance with the present system.

Embodiments of the present system may provide fast imaging methods toacquire and reconstruct images. Suitable applications may includeimaging systems such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems whichmay include a LINAC to output radiation beams (e.g. which may be focusedand/or directed to a desired location) and the like so as to form anMR-LINAC system. Embodiments of the present system may provide ahomogeneous (or substantially homogeneous) main magnetic field in avolume of interest (VOI) which may be beneficial for providing MR-guidedradiation therapy in a treatment or radiation zone while meeting orexceeding competitive uniformity specifications, such as the Ingenia™uniformity specification. Further, embodiments of the present system mayprovide a homogeneous (or substantially homogeneous) main magnetic fieldwithout shims of a shim system interfering with the predictability of aradiation dose (e.g., from a LINAC) delivered to a patient situated witha cavity of the body of the system.

While the present invention has been shown and described with referenceto particular exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that present invention is not limited thereto, butthat various changes in form and details, including the combination ofvarious features and embodiments, may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Further variations of thepresent system would readily occur to a person of ordinary skill in theart and are encompassed by the following claims.

Finally, the above-discussion is intended to be merely illustrative ofthe present system and should not be construed as limiting the appendedclaims to any particular embodiment or group of embodiments. Thus, whilethe present system has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it should also be appreciated that numerous modificationsand alternative embodiments may be devised by those having ordinaryskill in the art without departing from the broader and intended spiritand scope of the present system as set forth in the claims that follow.In addition, the section headings included herein are intended tofacilitate a review but are not intended to limit the scope of thepresent system. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to beregarded in an illustrative manner and are not intended to limit thescope of the appended claims.

Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative manner and are not intended to limit the scope of theappended claims.

In interpreting the appended claims, it should be understood that:

a) the word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elementsor acts than those listed in a given claim;

b) the word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude thepresence of a plurality of such elements;

c) any reference signs in the claims do not limit their scope;

d) several “means” may be represented by the same item or hardware orsoftware implemented structure or function;

e) any of the disclosed elements may be comprised of hardware portions(e.g., including discrete and integrated electronic circuitry), softwareportions (e.g., computer programming), and any combination thereof;

f) hardware portions may be comprised of one or both of analog anddigital portions;

g) any of the disclosed devices or portions thereof may be combinedtogether or separated into further portions unless specifically statedotherwise;

h) no specific sequence of acts or steps is intended to be requiredunless specifically indicated; and

i) the term “plurality of” an element includes two or more of theclaimed element, and does not imply any particular range of number ofelements; that is, a plurality of elements may be as few as twoelements, and may include an immeasurable number of elements.

1. A magnetic resonance apparatus, comprising: a body portion comprisinga cavity having opposed ends and at least one opening situated at one ofthe opposed ends, the cavity defining a longitudinal axis extendingbetween the first and second ends, an annular zone disposed between thefirst and second ends and around the cavity and configured to pass aradiation beam; at least one main magnet for generating a main magneticfield comprising a substantially homogenous magnetic field within thecavity; a radiation source for emitting at least one radiation beamthrough the cavity; and a shim system comprising an annular cylindricalshim around the cavity and extending between opposed edges and whichsubstantially encircles and extends along the longitudinal axis of thebody portion.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shim systemfurther comprises a plurality of discrete shims situated between an edgeof the opposed edges of the cylindrical shim and an adjacent one of theopposed ends of the cavity.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein thecylindrical shim comprises a plurality of shim layers laminated uponeach other.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shim system furthercomprises one or more rails each configured to be coupled to a pluralityof the discrete shims.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecylindrical shim comprises a spirally wound sheet having N turns,wherein N is an integer greater than
 2. 6. A magnetic resonanceapparatus, comprising: a body portion comprising a cavity having opposedends and at least one opening situated at one of the opposed ends, thecavity defining a longitudinal axis extending between the first andsecond ends, an annular zone disposed between the first and second endsand around the cavity and configured to pass a radiation beam; at leastone main magnet for generating a main magnetic field comprising asubstantially homogenous magnetic field within the cavity; a radiationsource for emitting at least one radiation beam through the cavity; anda shim system comprising an annular cylindrical shim having opposededges and which substantially encircles and extends along thelongitudinal axis of the body portion, wherein the cylindrical shimcomprises a plurality of sub-shims laminated radially upon each other,and wherein each of the plurality of sub-shims comprises a gap in thecylindrical wall, wherein the gap extends parallel to the longitudinalaxis.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a filler situatedin the gap.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gap of each of thesub-shims is rotationally offset from the gap of the other sub-shims soas to be staggered.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gap of atleast one sub-shim is rotationally offset from the gap of anothersub-shim so as to be staggered.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6, whereinthe gap of each sub-shim is aligned with the gaps of the othersub-shims.